Beef Business Saskatchewan's Premier Cattle Industry Publication September 2019
A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Publication Publication Mail Agreement #40011906
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Contents
Beef Business
Cover photo courtesy of Kimberly Simpson, Kyle, SK
A Proud Saskatchewan Tradition Since 1913
A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) Publication
Industry News 6
Canada’s Beef Export Markets Bright With Opportunity
8
Fisheries Act Amended, Stay Tuned for Regulations...
10
Saskatchewan Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program Update
11
SSGA Holds Successful Argo Wildfire Benefit
13
SSGA Sign Brightens SK Legislature
13
Livestock Producers Receive Tax Relief
General Manager: Chad MacPherson Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga@sasktel.net OR ssga.admin@sasktel.net Website: www.skstockgrowers.com Communications Manager: Marusia Kaweski Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 (306) 757-8523 (306) 569-8799 (fax) ssgacommunications@sasktel.net
Markets and Trade 14
Weekly Chart
15
Consumer Demand Grows, Cattle Herd Shrinks
16
Retail Meat Price Survey
Subscriptions Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga.admin@sasktel.net
Features 17
Recycling and Upcycling
Subscription Rate: 1 yr $26.50 (GST included) Published 5 times per year
Science and Production 20
Good Business Equals Good Paper
21
Where’s the Beef? Missing Livestock Files
22
Feed Options
Design and Layout: Jackson Designs Candace Schwartz Tel: 306-772-0376 email: cjacksondesigns@gmail.com
Stewardship 24
A Little About the Little Brown Myotis and What You Can Do
26
Conserving Species Habitat
Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Manager: Carolyn Gaudet Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-352-0472 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: pcap@sasktel.net
Association News, Reports and Events 30
SSGA AGM & Convention
32
SSGA 2019 AGM Resolutions
34
Rangeland Scholarship Awarded at AGM
35
SSGA Welcomes New Director
35
Saskatchewan High School Rodeo
36
SSGA President’s Report
37
2019 SSGA Board of Directors
38
Calendar of Events
39
Advertisers Index
40
Business Directory
SSGA reserves the right to refuse advertising and to edit manuscripts. Contents of Beef Business may be reproduced with written permission obtained from the SSGA Manager and proper credit given to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association. Articles submitted may not be the opinion of the Association. SSGA assumes no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader from this publication based on any and all information provided. Publications Mail Agreement #40011906 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses (covers only) to: Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Box 4752, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4
Contributors
Re
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Chad MacPherson Jason Pollock Vern Racz
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Follow us on
Fonda Froats Bill Huber Carolyn Gaudet Marusia Kaweski
facebook.com/skstockgrowers @SK_StockGrowers SEPTEMBER 2019
This magazine is printed on paper that is comprised of 50% recycled paper and 25% post-consumer waste. It is acid-free, elemental chlorine-free and is FSC certified
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 5
Industry News Canada’s Beef Export Markets Bright With Opportunity Foreign trade relations have settled down in 2019 after a year of uncertainty in 2018. In fact, beef export markets appear optimistic as cattle producers head into fall. Although beef trade relations with China have been suspended, the Canadian beef industry is confidant that a resolution will be reached and the growing sales to the region will resume. Beef Business spoke with Fawn Jackson, senior manager of government and international relations with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, to catch up on these and other foreign trade issues affecting the Canadian beef industry. China For the Canadian beef industry China is an important export market with huge potential. Today, China ranks fifth among trading partners for Canadian exports of beef and veal. In the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, beef and veal sales to China grew a whopping 271.81% from approximately 2.8 million kilograms to 11.3 million kg, according to Statistics Canada. Beef sales have even more potential to increase and possibly fill the Chinese market in the wake of shortfalls in pork supplies due to the African Swine Fever outbreak. However, all trade interests came to a halt in late June 2019 when China banned the export of all meat from Canada. At China’s request, explained Jackson, the Government of Canada stopped issuing export certificates because a fraudulent Canadian pork export certificate had been discovered. Initially, pork exports were affected, then the stoppage was extended to beef. “Since then, trade has not resumed,” Jackson noted. The RCMP have launched an investigation into the fraudulent certificates and have yet to report on their findings. Meanwhile, the Canadian government is working on smoothing political and economic relations and clearing the export certificate process in order for Canadian beef to re-enter the Chinese market. The big question for the beef industry has
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been why beef exports were suspended if the concern originated with pork. According to the Canadian government’s explanation, beef was included because the issue affected the entire meat export certificate system. “That was certainly one of our questions, but that was the explanation given to us by the government,” Jackson said about CCA inquiries into the matter. For now, with few answers forthcoming, producers will have to be patient as the situation unfolds. “Certainly, I think the amount of time that it’s taking to resolve the issue raises questions about how it will be solved,” Jackson added. Nevertheless, the full impact of the suspension of meat exports to China has yet to be felt by the Canadian beef industry. Product that was already in the supply chain destined for China felt the impact of the ban most. This beef had to be redirected or detained which would lead to additional costs for cold storage and for redirecting product to other markets. Trade diversity has limited the impact on beef prices for new sales. “We are fortunate that Canada does have access to a number of different markets through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) or through the Canada-South Korea trade agreement or the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe,” Jackson added. She noted that it is important to have tools such as diverse market access to be able to adjust to market anomalies. “That’s why we focus so much on having diverse market access because, even in a trade disruption such as this one, while it’s costly to switch, we’re still fortunate to have that opportunity to be able to adjust markets,” she stated. “China is an important market opportunity for us and so we will continue to encourage the Canadian government to re-establish that relationship,” Jackson said about beef opportunities in China. The African Swine Fever outbreak in China
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has further created opportunities for other proteins to fill the void. For this reason, the CCA is looking to the government for three points to aid in resolving the China trade matter: (1) Initiating a beef working group similar to the canola working group that was formed when China halted canola seed imports from Canada; (2) amending the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) to become a permanent program across Canada; and (3) investing in an export diversification fund. North America The United States remains Canada’s number one export destination for beef. In the first six months of 2019, Canada exported over 115 million kilograms of beef and veal valued at over $1.1 billion, reported StatsCan. This is an increase of 11% in volume and 21% in value over this same period last year. Mexico is not far behind – in fourth place with $59.1 million in exports in the first half of the year, a jump of 13% over last year. Much of the trade uncertainty in 2018 stemmed from the negotiation process surrounding the re-drafting of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the U.S. and Mexico. In September 2018 a deal was struck and by the end of that year Mexico had ratified the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, livestock producers are still on edge because the U.S. has not yet ratified the agreement – and neither has Canada. The Canadian government made clear that it would move in step with the U.S. for ratification. “For us we are okay with whatever pace occurs for the ratification – as long as the original NAFTA remains in place,” Jackson stated. The House of Commons was not recalled from summer recess to vote on ratification and, with an election approaching in October, it looks doubtful that a vote will take place before then. Probably, voting will happen after the election. Still, Jackson is
SEPTEMBER 2019
Industry News confident that the deal will receive final approval on both sides of the border. “We have one of the greatest trading relationships – certainly in the world – across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, and I do believe that the ratification will go forward,” she maintained. Moreover, many agricultural organizations in the U.S. are also anxious to have the USMCA receive final approval and are communicating the importance of this trade agreement to their congressional stakeholders. Europe Canadian beef exports to the high value European Union (EU) market has been growing. For example, in the first half of this year compared to this same period in 2018, Canadian beef and veal exports increased by 118% in volume and 76% in value. “The price per kilo is really quite impressive going into the European market,” Jackson said. For instance, beef going to the EU market in 2019 is $14/kg compared to $7.29/kg on average going to the U.S., and even $10/kg going to Hong Kong and Macau. While European beef and veal exports to Canada outpace beef imports from Canada, the value of Canadian beef has been approaching European prices. Canada signed the CETA agreement with the European Union in 2016 and it provisionally took effect in 2017. However, trade with Europe seems to be moving at a slower pace than exports to other regions. According to Jackson, the Canadian industry hopes to achieve rapid growth in the European market and optimization of the market. At the same time, it’s clear that Canada is not taking advantage of full access into the EU market. “I think the signal is being sent to sell more beef over there,” she stated. “We would like to see more beef going into the European market and are working with the Canadian government to hopefully establish how we could build that trade,” said Jackson. However, there are some barriers to greater trade. For example, beef going into Europe has to be hormone-free, and there has to be an audit by a veterinarian recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
SEPTEMBER 2019
The CCA is looking to streamline the process. “Previously, we were working on making sure there were enough veterinarians across Canada to be able to complete the demands of the audits,” she said. “Now, we are working on determining some groups of cattle that don’t need an on-farm audit.” For example, they suggest that producers on cow-calf operations that don’t use growth hormones could sign an attestation that growth hormones were not used in the cows. An audit could take place later at the feedlot. CCA is also hoping for changes whereby audits could be conducted by other bodies like Verified Beef Production Plus to reduce the burden on veterinarians, following the U.S. process for marketing to Europe. One glitch in European trade is Brexit. Canada is closely watching for Great Britain’s exit from the European Union and under what kind of deal. Canada and the UK have a long economic and political history. They’ve carried out some preliminary discussions on trade. The UK has expressed an interest joining the CPTPP trading bloc. “That would be quite exciting,” she stated. At the same time, there’s an opportunity for a trade deal to be worked out that is more appropriate for the Canada-UK context. “These are some of the things that are slowing down trade right now to the European market. We would like to see the Canadian government put a priority on finding pathways to be able to resolve these barriers,” said Jackson. Asia Pacific The Asia-Pacific region is a fast-growing export market for Canadian beef, especially the Japanese market. “It’s certainly an exciting time in the Japanese market,” Jackson explained. For example, the January to June period of 2019 compared to the same timeframe last year showed that Canadian beef and veal exports to Japan grew by 62.2% in volume and 72.4% in value, totaling $161.5 million. She also noted that opportunities have arisen that allow more beef products to enter the Japanese market. Japan has
lifted the age restriction and now allows Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to enter the country. This opens up another opportunity for also exporting older cattle to Japan. Beef marketing to the region got a boost late last year when Canada ratified the CPTPP trade agreement. The CPTPP entered into force on December 30, 2018 between the first six countries ratifying the Agreement: Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore. This meant an immediate reduction in the tariff rates for Canadian beef exporters to Japan from 38.5% to 26.5% and a further reduction over 15 years to 9%. “Certainly, having a tariff differential does impact sales and being a first mover in a market is also really important,” Jackson said. “That’s why we were pushing so hard to get Canada to ratify the CPTPP so we could be one of those first countries that got that first mover advantage into those markets.” Other markets in the region like Vietnam and South Korea also present opportunities for marketing Canadian beef. Jackson pointed out that different cuts of beef go to diverse locations where they are popular. Consumers in these areas are willing to pay a different range of prices for different types of cuts. Compared to sales on the domestic market, Canadian exporters gain on average $650 more per carcass when sold on global markets. “That’s why it’s so exciting to get access into these Asian markets,” she added. “And that’s why trade is so important to the beef industry.” Canada has reduced tariffs with South Korea through a trade agreement compared to large beef competitors like the U.S. and Australia. For example, in 2019 Canada has a 26.7% tariff rate for the South Korean market for muscle cuts, whereas Australia’s rate is lower at 24% and the U.S. is at 18.7%. Although Canada has a higher tariff rate in the South Korean market, it has a tariff advantage over the U.S. in other markets. For example, in Japan the U.S. tariff is 38%, while Canada’s is 26.5%. continued on page 12
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Industry News Fisheries Act Amended, Stay Tuned For Regulations… On August 28, 2019 the fish and habitat protection provisions under the modernized Fisheries Act officially came into force. Amendments to the Fisheries Act took effect this summer and have now become law. The changes to the Act had expanded the definition of fish habitat and threatened to impact a range of agricultural activities that are unconnected to fish activities, including beef production. However, disruptions have been largely avoided thanks to Senate hearings and recommendations, and agricultural stakeholder input and discussions. There continues to be collaboration on codes of practice. Beef Business spoke to Larry Thomas, manager of Environment and Sustainability for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), to summarize the legislative process and status of Bill C-68, which makes amendments to the Fisheries Act, and its impact on agriculture into the future. Status of the Bill In June 2018, the House of Commons adopted a last-minute amendment to the Fisheries Act without any consultations. According to the government, the intent of the changes was to better protect fish and fish habitat and increase the sustainability of Canadian fisheries. Bill C-68 was sent to the Senate for debate. It passed two readings in the Senate, and a third reading was set for February this year. The amendment expanded the definition of fish habitat to include all areas with the necessary water flow characteristics to sustain fish ecosystems. The cattle industry and other agricultural sectors had concerns about the bill because this definition and other changes could make it very difficult for beef producers to carry out their daily activities and comply with the Act. Before the final Senate reading of the bill, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) made a submission to the Senate
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Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans hearing. The submission asked for the removal of Subsection 2.2, the Deeming Habitat Provision, which made water quality and quantity flow part of the definition of fish habitat. This means this provision recognizes nearly all water as fish habitat. Consequently, “it would be pretty much inconceivable for any rancher, feedlot, or beef farmer to be in compliance with the Act,” stated Thomas. The CCA submission to the Senate committee made several recommendations from the cattle industry including streamlining the regulations to reduce the regulatory burden on beef producers and creating exemptions for specific activities or works (structures). The cattle industry was not alone in its concerns. Representatives from other sectors in agriculture as well as from industry made submissions to the committee also voicing their opposition to the water flow provision. “Very quickly, the Senate came to understand that most resource entities and agricultural entities wanted the water flow provision gone,” he explained. The Senate committee concluded its hearings and made its report to the Senate recommending amendments to Bill C-68. The Senate returned the bill to the House of Commons and recommended the removal of Subsection 2.2 as well as the wording “water frequented by fish” from the definition of fish habitat. After some debate on wording in the Act, the House of Commons agreed to remove the water flow provision, but they insisted that the wording “water frequented by fish” remain in the definition of fish habitat citing its removal would contravene the intent of the Act itself. The “water frequented by fish” wording could still prove to be problematic with words like “frequented” up for interpretation. Although the CCA and the agriculture groups had hoped that the wording of the definition would be changed, they were
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confidant that other provisions and the regulations would be able to clarify the fish habitat definition. The Fisheries Act amendments received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019 and has now become law. Notably, while most of the Act has come into force, stated Thomas, the fish and fish habitat provision still had not come into force and the regulations, codes of practice and standards are yet to be developed. The fish and fish habitat provision, which is of key interest to the cattle industry, came into force August 28, 2019 through an Order in Council. The Regulations In the meantime, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has reached out to agricultural sector stakeholders to help develop the standards and codes of practice and the routine works regulations; basically exemptions. The aim was to support fish, fish habitat and fisheries, but at the same time, to ensure producers are not overburdened by regulations. These two sides began meeting in the summer with work expected to take place over several months. Regarding regulatory standards, the amended Act stipulates that the Minister of Fisheries has the power to create advisory panels which would hold crosssector meetings to develop the standards. At this time, the members of the panel are unknown, but it appears that agriculture and livestock representatives will likely get a place at the table. For its part, the DFO appears willing to learn about agricultural operations, especially legacy operations, and how they have operated historically and how they can continue to operate in the future. Meanwhile, a group of agricultural organizations have begun their own consultation process to confer with agricultural-oriented stakeholders across Canada in order to create a list of recommendations for the development of standards, codes of practice and exemptions to take to the DFO.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Industry News The purpose of the standards is to set a limit on achieving an objective. What this looks like in practice is that, if a producer wanted to install, maintain or replace a culvert, for example, they would have to ensure that the design and implementation would still allow fish to pass through that culvert and the work did not alter, disrupt or destroy fish habitat. For instance, if this water is a deemed fish habitat, the flow cannot be cut off to an inlet. Standards to install a culvert would have to be developed for guidance. The code of practice also needs to be developed. Producers would follow these codes to ensure that best practices are used to comply with the Act. For example, a producer might create an erosion control plan to avoid impacting the fish habitat. As another example, a producer would follow timing restrictions when carrying out activities in or near fish habitat. This might include postponing or modifying the activity during the fish spawning period. The routine projects regulation concerning routine projects, works, and activities is of special interest to the livestock industry. Codes of practice would be developed for various activities in agriculture. For example, activities like beaver dam removal, which always involves some sort of fish habitat, would alter the habitat. Thus, a code of practice would be developed for this commonplace activity. As for exemptions, agriculture will be working on getting exemptions for certain types of activities set out in the routine works regulation. The agricultural stakeholders would like to help the DFO understand the reality of farming activities and to help them develop codes of practice and exemptions for these activities. “We have to be able to fertilize. We have to be able to cultivate. We have to be able to apply pesticides. And sometimes that is going to be in proximity
SEPTEMBER 2019
to fish habitat,” Thomas explained. “We’re going to make sure we get them built into the regulations.” One of the chief concerns about Bill C-68 for the livestock sector had been that water bodies located on farmland and ranches could be deemed fish habitat which would then limit farming activities. The DFO has made clear that enforcing the Act on farmland and dugouts was not the intent of the amendments. They also do not have the resources for this kind of enforcement. Their concern is primarily directed toward public resource fisheries, including commercial, recreational, public, or aboriginal fisheries. Other Issues With this regulatory process still underway and while standards and codes are being hammered out, a looming federal election this fall has the potential to reverse any gains. Potentially, a new government could repeal the amended Act and propose its own changes, sending the Act back to the House of Commons and Senate for debate and passage or new amendments. There would be some risk in restarting the legislative process because the end result might not be in the best interests of agriculture. As it sits now, the Act doesn’t have to be scrapped altogether, Thomas explained, because it does contain some very positive points and provisions which, after much deliberation, are satisfactory to government and stakeholders alike. Moreover, there are still opportunities for the amended Act to be adjusted given that an important provision is not yet in force and standards and regulations are only in development. At the moment, the beef industry still has a voice in shaping the Act and its regulations. With so much interest from the livestock sector and agriculture in developing Saskatchewan’s irrigation potential, the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act had the potential to impede this
development. “We have assurances that irrigation ditches and canals are not fish habitat, but we want confirmation and clarity also,” said Thomas. In order to seek more clarity in the legislation, the agricultural stakeholders want to address various types of water conveyance in their recommendations for the regulations and codes. The water structure around water conveyance works like irrigation, drainage, supply and ditch works weren’t meant to be habitat. For example, there needs to be clarity on cleaning sediment out of these sorts of transference and conveyance structures and exemptions need to be draw up for these instances. Thus, the status of the bill is that it has become law and now the regulations, codes and standards are being developed. The DFO is working with agriculture stakeholders to develop this regulation. The CCA is happy that the DFO is not targeting farmers and ranchers in enforcement. “We’re really hopeful that we can very effectively work with DFO and come forward with the standards and codes of practice and routine work activities regulation to really build it so it is workable for most of us out on the working landscape,” Thomas stated about the consultation work in the months ahead. Thus, with some of the Fisheries Act legislation in force, the CCA was pleased that Subsection 2.2 was removed. It’s also cautiously optimistic about the future and feeling positive that their other recommendations on the regulatory burden for producers would be considered during the process of developing regulations, codes and standards. “We’re not there yet,” he added. “That’s going to take us several months to a year to get done.”B
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Industry News Saskatchewan Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program Update In Fall 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture developed a surveillance program to help detect and control Johne’s Disease in the Saskatchewan cattle herd. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) became the administrator for the program which tested approximately 15,000 beef cattle over the course of the five years of Growing Forward 2 programming. SSGA is now about halfway through its second year of administering the renewed Johne’s Disease Surveillance program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program. Under the program, beef producers and sheep and goat producers can receive support to test their adult animals for Johne’s Disease. Small ruminants were added to the program in October 2018. The program did see a change under CAP. In the current program, producers may reapply to the program every second year
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There is presently allocation available for beef cattle, sheep and goats in this current program year which ends in March 2020. Producers who are prepared to test before March 15, 2020 should complete the application form and apply to SSGA. B
and, if approved, will be responsible for 50% of the veterinary and laboratory fees incurred during any subsequent rounds of participation in the program beyond the first participation. Producers can be assured that their participation and results obtained from the program are kept completely confidential. Program results are only reported collectively.
*For more program information and an application form, call the SSGA Office: (306) 757-8523 or http://skstockgrowers. com/johnes-disease-surveillance-program/
2018-2019 Program Results # head tested
# head positive
# herds/flocks
# with at least one positive
5,040
194
32
25
Goats
422
48
6
5
Goats & Sheep
91
3
3
1
Beef cattle
*Note that these results do not represent the average incidence of Johne’s Disease in Saskatchewan. Most producers apply to the program strongly suspecting or already knowing they have Johne’s in their herd/flock.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Industry News SSGA Holds Successful Argo Wildfire Benefit The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) organized a successful Argo Wildfire Benefit Concert that took place on July 6, 2019 in Biggar, Saskatchewan. The event was part of the SSGA’s Wildfire Relief fundraising campaign to help those producers affected by the mid-April wildfire near the Biggar area. The Argo fire in mid-April burned over 22,000 acres of pastures and damaged over 75 miles of fence. Producers face significant costs in rebuilding fencing and finding alternative grazing. The event raised over $80,000 and included live and silent auctions and a performance by Saskatchewan musician Chris Henderson, which was presented by the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. “The benefit concert showed overwhelming support for those ranchers affected by the Argo Wildfire in April,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber. “We know the funds won’t replace everything that was lost, but it can go a long way to helping them recover.” The event received considerable support from the Biggar area as well as from outof-town guests. A number of dignitaries also attended the benefit and participated in the program, including Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Carlton TrailEagle Creek, Randy Weekes, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Biggar-Sask Valley, Jeanne-Marie de Moissac, Reeve of the RM of Biggar and Biggar Mayor Ray Sadler. “SSGA extends its appreciation to all those who attended the benefit and purchased auction items from the live and silent auctions. This really reflects the Saskatchewan spirit where neighbours help out neighbours,” Huber added. “We also thank the Biggar and area community for hosting the event as well as all the volunteers for helping to make this benefit concert a success.” “We would like to thank all of our sponsors and the donors of items for the live and SEPTEMBER 2019
SSGA President Bill Huber (left) at the Argo Wildfire Benefit in Biggar, SK, in June 2019, with Kelly Block MP, Clark Schultz President of SWF, Jeanne-Marie de Moissac, Reeve of the RM of Biggar, and Randy Weekes, MLA. Photo credit: Kimberly Simpson
silent auctions,” Huber said. “Thank you for making these auctions a success.” “SWF is proud to have sponsored this outstanding event. We recognize the ag community as stewards of the land, providing wildlife populations, including species-at-risk, with the necessary habitat to thrive,” stated Clark Schultz, president of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), which sponsored the Chris Henderson performance for the benefit. Sponsors for the Argo Wildfire Benefit Concert were:
• Gold Sponsors: Biggar Vet Clinic,
Cargill Prairie Malt, Eagle Creek Watershed Group, RosetownKindersley Mainline Motor Products.
• Silver Sponsors: Biggar and Landis
Insurance Services, Biggar and District Credit Union, Bank of Montreal, Cherry Insurance AgSecure, Coca-Cola Canada, Farm Credit Canada, Great Western Brewing Company, Hammond Realty, New U Fitness & Nutrition, Peavey Mart, RBC Dominion Securities – Brendon Boothman, Richardson Pioneer, SaskEnergy, SaskMilk, Silver Eagle Excavating, Saskatoon Livestock Sales, Western Sales Service.
• Bronze Sponsors: AGI-Envirotank,
Buckberger Baerg & Partners, D&E Transport, Dutch Industries, George & Brandi Mair and Family, Haynes Angus, Highline Manufacturing, Keppel Farms, Miller Livestock, OLS Tubs, Western Wireless Communications.
• Media Sponsors: 92.9 The Bull, Bear SSGA President Bill Huber (right) receives a donation from Clark Schultz, President of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation for the Argo Wildfire Benefit. Photo credit: Kimberly Simpson
Hills Media Group, CFYM 1210 Classic Hits, CJWW 600, Country 104.9 FM.
• Presenting Sponsor: Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. B
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Industry News Beef Export cont. from pg. 7 Global Influence The global meat trade has been shaped recently by a number of factors occurring in the international arena. For example, China’s suspension of Canadian beef exports, China’s sanctions on U.S. agriculture exports, and the spread of African Swine Fever in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere that has limited some meat supplies. Together they create opportunities as well as barriers to trade.
Overall, Canadian beef enjoys strong demand globally and it has diverse market access today, discounting the impact of China at the moment, Jackson concluded. “There is quite a bit of opportunity.” She attributes this success to the intensive efforts made to rebuild market access in the post-Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) period. While the situation with China continues to get resolved, Canada can explore beef marketing opportunities in other areas. Canada’s past focus on export diversification has been beneficial during these sorts of trade blips.
SQUARE HEREFORDS WHERE QUALITY RUNS GENERATIONS DEEP
NJW 73S 22Z Mighty Max 69B His service and progeny will be featured on October 21, 2019
The CCA will continue to help to reestablish the Canada-China beef trading relationship. It’s also important to ensure that the beef industry has a regulatory environment within Canada to enable producers to optimize the access that exists. “We’ll continue to push the Canadian government to keep focusing on export diversification so that Canadian agriculture can contribute as well as it has to the Canadian economy,” Jackson stated.
PRODUCTION SALE
Monday, October 21, 2019 At the Square D Sale Site: 12 miles South of Whitewood on #9 HWY. 3 miles West in Sunnymead Road. 1 mile North into yard.
Square-D Jan 373D with heifer calf Square-D Winnie 973G Senior Champion Female at CJHA Bonanza 2019, Grand Champion Female at SE Sask. Hereford Field Day, Champion Mature Female and Reserve Grand Champion at the 2019 Manitoba Field Day
Progeny and services of these sires will sell at our annual Square D Sale October 21, 2019 NJW 73S 22Z MIGHTY MAX 69B ET BW NJW 139X 10W PAYDAY 31E NJW 79Z 22Z HEAVY DUTY ET 72C
Square D Herefords
SQUARE D CENTURY 957B NJW 34S 38W BEEF 15Z ET SQUARE D POWERPOINT 716B
Jim & Lori Duke RR#2 Langbank, SK 306-538-4556 phone | 306-736-7921 cell (Jim) email: square.d@sasktel.net | web: square-dpolledherefords.com
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| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
Guest Consignors: Keller Ranch
Jordan Keller 1-306-728-0108 Garnet Keller 1-306-728-3657 kellerranch.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
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Industry News SSGA Sign Brightens SK Legislature Here to help you plan, design & install a grazing system from start to finish
t ASK US aboue a pastur n renovatio n consultatio TODAY!
Premier Scott Moe (left) and Deputy Premier Gordon Wyant were presented with a Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association sign at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in August.
D& R Prairie Supplies is a Gallagher Certified Pasture Pro
Livestock Producers Receive Tax Relief The Government of Canada on July 22, 2019 released an initial list of designated regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec where livestock tax deferral has been authorized for 2019 due to extreme weather conditions. The list for Saskatchewan includes much of the central and southern regions of the province. The livestock tax deferral provision allows livestock producers in prescribed drought, flood or excess moisture regions to defer a portion of their 2019 sale proceeds of breeding livestock until 2020 to help replenish the herd. The cost of replacing the animals in 2020 will offset the deferred
income, thereby reducing the tax burden associated with the original sale. Regions for livestock tax deferral are identified as those which have forage shortfalls of 50% or more of the long-term average. Only those producers located inside the designated prescribed areas are eligible for deferral. To defer income, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15%. Herds reduced by 15% to 30% can defer 30% of income from net sales. Breeding herds reduced by over 30% can defer 90% of income from net sales. In consecutive years of drought, excess moisture and flood conditions, producers may defer sales income to the first year in which the region is no longer prescribed. B
For more information: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/programs-and-services/drought-watch/livestock-tax-deferralprovision/2019-livestock-tax-deferral-initial-prescribed-regions/?id=1563200329910
SEPTEMBER 2019
We can help you plan, design and install a grazing system from start to finish, so you’ll have nothing to worry about. To learn more or to set up your no obligation consultation, contact us today at: 306-221-1558
D&R PRAIRIE SUPPLIES Roger Meyers Minton, Saskatchewan 306-221-1558
CERTIFIED PASTURE PRO
www.skstockgrowers.com | ŠBEEF BUSINESS | 13
Markets and Trade
230
2017 2018
180
2019 130
360 310 2016 260
2017 2018
210
2019
160
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
2016
Price per hundred weight
SK Weekly Average Price 500-600 lbs Steers
280
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
Source: CanFax
0.98
190 180 170
2016
160
2017
150
2018
140
2019
130
CDN $ - US terms
Price per hundred weight
200
0.93 0.88
2019
0.83
2018
0.78
5 yr avg
0.73 0.68
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
120 Source: CanFax
Alberta Weekly D1 & D2 Cows
Source: Bank of Canada
Lethbridge Barley Price
120.00
310.00 290.00
110.00 100.00
2016
90.00
2017
80.00
2018
70.00
2019
270.00 250.00
2016
230.00
2017
210.00
2018
190.00
2019
170.00 150.00
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
60.00
Price per tonne
Price per hundred weight
Source: CanFax
Weekly Canadian Dollar
AB Fed Steer Prices
Source: CanFax Source: CanFax
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
Price per hundred weight
SK Weekly Average Price Heifers 500-600 lbs
Source: CanFax
For more information visit www.canfax.ca
14
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Markets and Trade Consumer Demand Grows, Cattle Herd Shrinks Two late summer shocks sent ripples of uncertainty through the cattle markets just as beef producers start gearing up for the fall run. Nevertheless, prospects look bright for marketing of Canadian cattle and beef. Beef Business spoke to Brian Perillat, Canfax manager and senior analyst, to catch up on the events influencing fall calf prices and the factors affecting market trends. Trade Wars The trade war between the U.S. and China heated up on August 23 as China slapped an additional 10% tariff on U.S. pork and beef imports. The markets reacted immediately plunging for the rest of August. The U.S. hog market felt the biggest effect, although the Chinese beef market is not large enough to create any great waves in the global beef trade. Canada, which currently faces a ban on beef and pork exports to China, was spared any tariff increases. Tyson Plant Fire A devastating fire at Tyson Foods beef harvest facility in Holcomb, Kansas on August 8 has temporarily halted processing at one of the biggest packing plants in the U.S., processing up to 6,000 head per day. As of late August, there was still a lot of uncertainty over the extent of the plant’s damage and how other packers will respond. Tyson announced that it would be rebuilding, but it could be months before it is back up to capacity. The news of the fire drove down the futures markets which were also feeling the effects of the poor USDA corn report and falling corn prices. The fire has set a negative tone in the market. It has created a situation where there will be pressure for many cattle that were destined for Holcomb to be placed. The glut comes from U.S. ranchers having raised more cattle to take advantage of a strong consumer demand for beef. The U.S. cattle on feed in feedlots with over 1,000 head capacity was record large totaling 11.5 million head as of July 1, CattleFax reported. At the same time, no new packing capacity has been added.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Most U.S. packing plants have been running at full capacity. The full impact of the fire is expected to unfold over the next three months. It’s difficult to project how much of an impact the Tyson fire will have on Canada because Canada’s herd is shrinking while the U.S. herd has experienced growth over the past few years. The U.S. herd experienced a big expansion in the last four years, but has levelled off now. Certainly, Western Canadian cattle will feel indirect impacts from the fire. As it depresses the U.S. market, it will likely have negative implications for the Canadian cattle market which follows the U.S. “If they start to see significant pressure on their cattle market, then we likely will too,” Perillat said. There’s a chance that Canadian packers might be processing more cattle that could have gone to the U.S. “Our packing plants are running pretty aggressively,” Perillat said. Canadian packing plants are all fully operating, and a new packing plant opened a few years ago. It is expected that Canadian packers can even process a few more cattle, Perillat surmised. With added feedlot capacity, the local Canadian market looks pretty positive compared to the U.S. What’s more, local feeder and calf prices haven’t changed substantially. “Basically, nothing has changed in Canada. Right now, the feeder market remains stable,” Perillat said, cautioning that the situation could change if the Tyson situation turns into a medium to long-term problem. Feeders remained pretty strong in late August and haven’t really corrected much in the wake of the fire. He expects to see more pressure on the fed cattle market as a result of the fire but that is yet to be seen. There could also be reduced U.S. interest for Canadian live cattle. Calf Prices Since calves and feeders will be priced off the futures market, it is difficult to estimate calf prices for the fall at this point. In mid-August markets were
negative right after the Tyson fire. The calf and feeder markets had been quite strong up to August trading at around $2.20 with this trend looking to continue. The feed outlook has also significantly changed. In June and July the concern was that feed costs would skyrocket but that effect came under control and moderated considerably with more precipitation later in the summer. As the fall yearling run starts, producers are expected to be selling off their feeders which can fetch attractive prices right now. There have been a few forward calf sales with 5-weight calves seeing prices above $2.20 with October delivery. This has been an attractive option for producers. Calf prices heading into the fall run have also been supported by factors such as falling grain prices and a slight dip in the Canadian dollar. For the most part, trading has been at $2.10 to $2.25 and it’s likely to continue in this range. Dollar The trend shows that the Canadian dollar has been trading relatively flat between $0.74 to $0.77 over the last couple of years and has not had any measurable effect on exports. It has been trading in this range for most of 2019 as well. The upcoming fall election could play havoc with the dollar but it is not expected to influence cattle markets directly. Foreign Trade The uncertainty surrounding the trade negotiations with the U.S. this past year appears not to have impacted the markets at all. Canada continues to trade beef and cattle with the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It’s expected that there will be few changes in the trade regime as long as the two countries ratify the new U.S.-MexicoCanada trade agreement in the agreed format. Meanwhile, Canada has seen phenomenal growth into Japan as a result of the Comprehensive and Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). continued on page 16
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 15
Markets and Trade RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY as of August 30, 2019 ($/lb)
CUTS
SOBEYS
SUPERSTORE
*
7.00
7.00
5.99
3.48
Ground beef/ regular
3.99
5.50
5.30
4.50
2.71
Roast/cross rib
6.50
9.41
8.55
*
6.76
*
*
*
*
*
Roast/outside round
6.50
8.41
6.49
*
6.76
Steak/rib eye
*
15.02
9.54
14.65
*
Steak/round
*
9.81
10.00
8.09
5.49
Steak/sirloin
9.99
19.03
13.49
16.73
12.27
Steak/T-bone
11.49
13.50
*
12.01
12.49
Steak/tenderloin
19.99
25.05
11.31
*
*
Ground beef/lean
Roast/rib
CO-OP SAFEWAY SAVE-ON-FOODS
*these items were not in the display case on this date Consumer Demand cont. from pg. 15 Canada now has a tariff advantage over the U.S. and a tariff equal to Australia. Canada has a reduced tariff rate to Japan which has now become the second biggest export market. Exports to Japan have grown over 60% in volume and over 70% in value year over year. There has also been some very strong export growth in the Asian region. Prior to the export ban, Canada saw four times more beef exported to China in the first half of the year. African Swine Fever African Swine Fever has devastated the Chinese hog population. It remains a huge story in terms of the jump in volumes of China’s beef, pork and poultry imports compared to a year ago. China imported beef and poultry in record large volumes. A shortage of domestic pork supplies and record high pork prices has meant that China has been seeking protein sources elsewhere – including more beef from South America, Australia, and New Zealand as well as sheep and lamb from Turkey. Their pork gap has been a huge influence on the global markets, but 16
Canada has not been able to capitalize on this strong Chinese demand because of the ban on beef and pork exports to China as well as a limit on U.S. beef exports. Domestic Market The domestic market has been positive despite the beef industry being the target of negative media coverage and aggressive alternative meat PR campaigns. Nevertheless, “we’ve seen beef consumption increase slightly per capita over the last couple of years,” Perillat said. This turns around a long-term trend of declining beef consumption per capita. Retail prices have dropped slightly but remain quite strong since prices peaked in 2014-2015, demonstrating a very positive demand and consumers willing to buy beef. “It’s a little tough because we have such strong international demand pulling beef away from Canada,” he added. Canadian Herd The Canadian cattle herd has continued to shrink, and the trend will likely persist for the rest of the year. This year’s contraction has a lot to do with the dry weather this spring. Some producers went through with their decision to cull a lot of cows. As
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a result, cattle slaughter rose significantly higher than a year ago but is starting to moderate now. “We’ve processed a lot more cows year-to-date, especially in the first quarter,” he said. As the weather has changed and more feed has become available, he expects fall cattle slaughter to drop below a year ago. At the same time, Canadian beef output is growing, meaning that more beef is coming from the smaller herd. Carcass weights are higher than a year ago. The long-term trend shows greater productivity per cow. “That generally shows the efficiency of the cow herd in the beef industry,” Perillat stated. In addition, Canada is exporting fewer feeders than normal, and have even imported more feeder cattle for finishing and processing in the last year. “We’re maintaining a larger proportion of our cattle herd in Canada for finishing and processing,” he added. “We’re actually putting more beef through our industry.” As a result, more beef is passing through Canadian feedlots with Canadian packing plants providing more beef for export. “It’s continued on page 39 SEPTEMBER 2019
Feature Recycling and Upcycling:
The Amazing Story of Cattle and the Environment
Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California-Davis
Climate change and the environment have moved to the forefront of social issues today. Beef cattle production has been cited by some as a major contributor to climate change due to its methane emissions. Beef Business spoke to the internationally renowned researcher Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California-Davis on cattle production and its impact on the environment, climate and food production. Mitloehner specializes in measurement and mitigation of airborne pollutants from livestock production, including greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter. He has given presentations and written extensively on the topic of cattle and their environmental impact throughout North America and beyond. He recently spoke to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Convention on Sustainability in Beef – the Nexus Between Productivity and Environmental Performance. He is also active on Twitter (@GHGGuru), sharing and commenting on the latest information on cattle, beef, the environment and related topics. Misconstrued Cattle came to earn a reputation for harming the environment with methane emissions back in 2006 with the release of the Food and Agricultural Organization’s (FAO) report Livestock’s Long Shadow. It made the assertion that livestock produces more greenhouse gases (GHGs) SEPTEMBER 2019
than the global transportation sector. “I wrote a rebuttal and pointed out that this comparison is flawed because two different methodologies were used to assess the impact of livestock versus that of transportation on the environment,” Mitloehner explained. The report considered the entire lifecycle of livestock – from soil, crops, fertilizer and pesticides to animal waste, animal transport, processing and all the way to the consumer. It is an incorrect comparison because the lifecycle assessment to ascertain environmental impacts was used for the livestock side, but only direct (tailpipe) emissions of vehicles was used for transportation. “Therefore, they used an apples-to-oranges comparison and that is where I had the beef,” he stated. The report’s authors agreed with Mitloehner and the issue appeared settled. Now debunked, the comparison rightly shouldn’t be used any longer, but comparisons of emissions between livestock and transportation continue to be made in social media by the press, the uninformed and celebrities. Marketers of milk and meat alternatives also continue to use this report because it suits their narrative. “If you want to sell plantbased burgers or milk alternatives on store shelves, then you must depict the original – the real beef or the real dairy – as negatively as possible,” Mitloehner explained. “It’s just a sales approach and I think it is disingenuous and it’s flawed, and it needs to stop.” Emissions Another problem with the FAO report is that global average emissions figures were used, whereby 14.5% of total global GHGs come from livestock. This figure is misleading when using it for specific locations such as Canada. There are vast differences in livestock GHG emissions across different regions of the world. Generally, countries like Canada, the U.S., Australia and the UK, which have the most efficient livestock production, have relatively the lowest environmental footprint per unit of product. For example,
the U.S. produces 23,000 pounds of milk per cow annually. Many developing countries produce 1,000 - 2,000 lbs. of milk per cow per year. Beef production per animal in North America also ranges between four and six times greater than in many developing countries. These large differences in efficiencies, Mitloehner maintained, is why global averages for livestock should not be used as reference points because they are heavily weighted toward developing countries in the Third World. Instead, he suggests, “We should use those numbers that apply to the countries where we reside.” For example, to find out the environmental impact of a car, one would ask for the environmental impact of a car in Canada, not the environmental impact of cars globally, which are weighted toward those many countries that have older and less fuel-efficient vehicles. The same holds for livestock. To find out the environmental impact of livestock, one should ask not for the global average for beef or dairy, but for the figures for beef or dairy in the province of one’s residence where the product’s consumers reside. That’s really the information consumers want to know and the information that they deserve in order to be accurately informed. Unfortunately, what really happens is that global numbers are touted. “If global averages look very bad, people take that as a message that they should stop consuming animal source foods. It’s just incorrect,” stated Mitloehner. Efficiencies Compared to the average global GHG emissions for livestock, cattle production in Canada and the U.S. is very efficient. Livestock in Canada and the U.S. comprise approximately 4% of total GHGs. Beef production in Canada is approximately 2% of total GHGs. In contrast, the Canadian and U.S. fossil fuel-related sectors, such as transportation, power production, cement continued on page 18
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 17
Feature Recycling cont. from pg. 17 production and other industries, amount to 80% of total GHG emissions. Moreover, a livestock assessment has been carried out recently in the U.S. studying the complete environmental impact of beef. The U.S. life cycle emission for GHGs for the beef supply chain is 3.3% including the whole chain “from cradle to grave”. “We know what part of the beef supply chain emits how much,” he explained. The main contributing aspects of GHGs for beef production have been determined and the main contributing factors to the carbon footprint have been established. A lot of research is still being done on mitigation to find ways to further reduce emissions beyond those reductions that have already been achieved.
populations on earth. Notably, the areas with the highest carbon footprint in the world – southeast Asia and northern and sub-Saharan Africa – are also the same areas with the greatest human population increase. The Carbon Cycle The comparison of cattle and transportation also must be considered in terms of the global methane budget and the carbon cycle. Often methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are used interchangeably by the media, marketing and those ascribing to a particular narrative. Mitloehner breaks down the differences between carbon dioxide and methane. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide
These efficiencies have meant that fewer cattle are used to produce more beef today than in the past. For example, back in 1970 there were 140 million beef cattle in the U.S., whereas today there are 90 million. In other words, 50 million fewer beef cattle are needed to produce the same amount of beef as in 1970. Moreover, even 200 years ago when Europeans began settling the U.S., there were 80 million bison – a similar magnitude to the 90 million beef cattle that exist today. The amount of methane that came from the bison pre-European settlement compared to the amount of methane from U.S. cattle today is very similar. “I do not believe that we have really changed the total amount of methane from large ruminants over the last 200 years in any meaningful amount,” Mitloehner noted. On the other hand, some of the world’s greatest inefficiencies in food production, including cattle production, are in those regions with growing populations. One of the reasons for the rise in GHGs is the growing world population, especially in two regions of the world. Most of the world population is concentrated in a small part of southeast Asia, while Africa has one of the fastest growing 18
(N2O) are usually compared according to their Global Warming Potential (GWP). For example, one molecule of CH4 traps solar heat 28 times more than one molecule of CO2. One molecule of N2O traps solar heat almost 300 times better than one molecule of CO2. Because of the difference between methane and CO2, it is being argued that everything producing methane must be eliminated because it is such a potent gas. What is not being considered is that once these gases are in the atmosphere, they remain there for up to 1,000 years. “Every time you’ve ever driven a car and CO2 came out of the tailpipe of that car, that CO2 is still in the atmosphere. This is the reason why CO2 goes only one way and that is up. It never goes down,” he stated. Methane, with a lifespan of 10 years, acts differently. Fossil fuels, agriculture waste, burning biomass and other natural
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emissions all produce methane emissions totalling 558 teragrams. In addition, there are two very important sink processes – processes that reduce methane in the atmosphere. A reaction occurs in the atmosphere, called oxidation, that removes hydrogen molecules from methane, effectively changing it into CO2. This process takes 10 years. The difference between the production of methane gas and its consumption is almost the same. Most discussions always focus on the production of methane, but the oxidation side rarely receives mention. During the process of photosynthesis, grasses remove CO2 from the air and expel oxygen. Thus, the carbon from CO2 remains in the plant and becomes carbohydrates (e.g., cellulose). The cow eats the plant and, as an unintended consequence of ruminant digestion, produces some methane which goes into the atmosphere. After 10 years, this methane is converted through oxidation into CO2 which is again removed from the air by plants. “It goes from the atmosphere into the plant, into the animals, into the atmosphere, into the plant, into the animal and so on. It’s a cycle,” Mitloehner described this process called the biogenetic methane cycle. A vital point to understand is that this cycle does not add any additional carbon to the atmosphere if the livestock herd remains at the same size. The amount of carbon that is derived from the cow’s methane equals the amount of carbon that returns to the grass. If herds are kept stable, the amount of carbon produced by the animals through belching and manure equals the amount of methane that’s being destroyed. If the herd shrinks there will be a positive effect. On the other hand, the carbon that’s contained in fossil fuels – oil, coal and gas – has been trapped in the ground for a long time. It’s extracted and burned in vehicles and homes resulting in CO2 going into the atmosphere where it remains and accumulates. Mitloehner noted that this process is not cyclical but one-way. “This is why you should never compare cows versus cars,” he added. “Because the carbon cycle in livestock is cyclical and, in SEPTEMBER 2019
Feature the case of fossil fuels, it is not cyclical. It’s a one-way street.” Dietary Guidelines In North America right now, there is social pressure for average people to reduce harmful emissions through their food choices. One argument encourages people to stop eating animal-based foods based on the notion that the land currently used for grazing animals can be converted to growing crops to feed the world. Mitloehner calls this idea “totally flawed because this land is by and large marginal and cannot be used to grow crops.” He pointed out that about 70% of all agricultural land in Canada, the U.S. and globally is marginal and unsuitable for growing crops. The land has poor soil and water resources, for example, and can only be used for ruminant livestock. Mitloehner gives this argument a closer look. “If the entire U.S. were to go meatless Monday, then that would reduce your country’s carbon footprint by 0.3%. If the entire country were to go vegan, it would reduce your carbon footprint anywhere between 2% to 3%,” he explained. If one person became vegan for a year, it would reduce the carbon footprint by 0.8 tonnes. At the same time, one transatlantic flight from North America to Europe equals 1.6 tonnes of emissions. This means that becoming a vegan for one year equates to I-HOG HFARM & RANCH TH
EQUIPMENT LTD.
E OU TST
1974
RA ANDING B
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ND
2019
half of a transatlantic flight per passenger per year, making only a small difference. “If you really want to make a difference, then you need to look into those issues that really matter,” he added.
out that it does not balance out in the public sphere in Canada because the largely plant-based diet is essentially being promoted as the official dietary recommendation.
This sentiment to convince people to eat less beef and more plant-based foods in order to help the planet and reduce emissions is even conveyed officially, such as in Canada’s Food Guide as well as the Eat-Lancet report, which attempts to shift global eating patterns to plant-based sources. Mitloehner was rather surprised that Canada’s new Food Guide resembles the Eat-Lancet guidelines so closely and is concerned that the importance of animal source foods in Canada were drastically underplayed.
Although the environmental footprint of plant-based foods might be lower, the nutritional quality of some of the products being promoted like “meatless” burgers is dubious. Mitloehner encourages consumers to take a closer look at the ingredients and how these products are made. “I think what needs to be pointed out here is that they are selling their stuff as more wholesome, more natural, more healthy – it is none of that,” he explained. “It is an ultraprocessed product that is indistinguishable from other
Although he doesn’t see the general public eating according to the new guide’s recommendations, Mitloehner believes the Food Guide can still influence the eating patterns of Canadians. “Those dietary recommendations do have a large impact on the food that we consume because they inform what dietitians recommend for school meals and for our administrative buildings and for the military and so forth,” he said. Furthermore, despite there being a number of dietary trends today that promote protein-based eating such as the Paleo Diet and Keto Diet, he pointed
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SEPTEMBER 2019
continued on page 38
The Story That Must be Told The story of cattle production and environmental recycling and upcycling is one that needs to be told, says Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California. This amazing story goes as follows: a calf is born and grazes on grass that grows as a result of photosynthesis. Ruminants eat plants like grass that contain cellulose which is inedible for humans. This whole process is solar-powered upcycling. Out on the pasture, the animal grows and there are no other inputs other than the sunlight and grass. “We take something that is non-edible by humans, like cellulose, and we convert that into a very highly bioavailable and digestible food item,” Mitloehner explained. “Not just do we recycle, we upcycle - this is really critical. This is a story that nobody tells, and I don’t understand why not.” Recycling is a very important process that occurs as a result of taking agricultural co-products and by-products which would normally be discarded but are recycled into animal diets, he said. These would include products inedible for humans like distillers grains, almond hulls or cotton seeds. Mitloehner stressed this important point, concluding, “We are upcycling it and we are recycling it. That is a story that must be told.”
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 19
Science and Production Good Business Equals Good Paper by Jason Pollock, CEO, Livestock Services of SK
Fall is the time when most of the beef industry markets its animals through a variety of options available to them. Whether it be through the local auction mart, on farm sales, a buying station, internet sale or any other means of sale, there are a few things to remember when selling or buying livestock. As a seller, it’s okay to ask for a dealer’s licence number if you haven’t dealt with them before. You can also phone our offices to find out about a buyer to see if they are a licenced and bonded dealer. A dealer’s bond gives you a measure of security in the sale transaction. All licenced dealers follow regulations set out for them to pay the owner within a certain timeframe and to comply with other components of the law. As a buyer, you may be considered a dealer if you buy and sell cattle within a certain timeframe and this is part of your ongoing business operation. You should check with your local inspector or call our offices to discuss this if you think you qualify as a dealer. Fall is also the time when producers are considering options for the winter months or even next year’s grazing plan. Perhaps the challenge this year revolves around a shortage of feed and you are considering retaining your calves but having them fed elsewhere or moving your mother cows to feed somewhere else. Chances are, producers in the areas of the prairies that were excessively dry earlier in the spring – but caught up with later rains in June and July – have the feed, facilities and expertise to winter livestock, providing an option for you if you are short of feed this winter. Should you make the choice to move livestock to a custom wintering operation or decide that now is the time to consider something long-term, like selling or leasing some cattle out, there may be some regulatory obligations around the 20
movement. There are also considerations relating to legal diligence in protecting your assets and interests. In addition to a properly completed livestock manifest for each load of animals moved within the province, it is important to remember that Saskatchewan provincial regulations requires you to have a livestock inspection completed by a Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS) inspector prior to movement of cattle and horses out of Saskatchewan. The LSS inspector will provide you with a transportation permit which must accompany the livestock. If you move livestock to feed in Alberta, you will also need to need to arrange for inspection by Livestock Identification Services (LIS) inspectors prior to bringing your stock home. Manitoba does not have livestock inspection requirements, which means that you do not need an inspection to return livestock from there to Saskatchewan. What does a good contract look like? What is a fair price for the service? Those are good questions. There are many good calculators available online or in print to help determine what is a fair price for a feeding contract, but these cannot necessarily address the contract required to protect your assets – whether that is the livestock, the feed or the labour. In Saskatchewan, basic party protection for custom feeding and pasturing agreements is covered by The Animal Custom Care Regulations, 2006. These regulations can be noted in an agreement with a copy readily available to both parties. A discussion of legalities opens the subject of what you should do as a matter of diligence in preparing for and securing a fair agreement where there is some benefit for all. The limits of article space here don’t allow for a detailed discussion of the many
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Helpful Hints • Report strays of unknown ownership to LSS staff and RM’s immediately after they are found; • For your financial protection, sell your livestock to Saskatchewan licenced dealers. You have the right to ask for their credentials; • When completing manifests, do not market animals payable to a ranch or farm name if you do not have an associated bank account in that name. things that make a good civil agreement but, as an owner, having a legible, registered brand on all your livestock is still your best protection. If you don’t currently brand or don’t have a brand registered in Saskatchewan, you can apply for one with your local LSS inspector by calling the Brand Registrar directly at 306546-5086, or get LSS district office contact information online at www.lssc.ca. We also suggest you ask your local inspector to alert inspection staff in any area where you are sending livestock. In addition to that, a simple contract for the service or rental or lease arrangement should be drawn up by a lawyer to help avoid possible issues that can arise with arrangements like this. Both parties should ask for references and check into the backgrounds of who they are dealing with. The cattle business is still a business after all and, as much as we rely on a handshake and our word, there are those among us that take advantage of this industry trust. Take them at their word and then get it in writing. It will help solve issues that can arise in any well-intentioned business transaction. The adage, “Good business equals good paper”, goes a long way. B SEPTEMBER 2019
Science and Production Active Missing Livestock Files August 2019
Area missing from
Number of head
Animal description
Oxbow
80
Cows
Oxbow
16
Cows
Brand description
Brand location
RCMP subdivision
NVB
Right hip
Livestock Branch contact
Date reported
Carnduff
Moosomin 306-435-4582
May 2019
Carnduff
Moosomin
May 2019
Carnduff
Moosomin
May 2019
Hanley
North Battleford 306-446-7404
May 2019
or NVB Oxbow
2
Bulls
Hanley
4
2019 calves
Right rib
Information provided by Livestock Services of Saskatchewan
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Science and Production Feed Options: Wintering the Herd by Vern Racz, MSc, PAg
The time is now to consider your feed options. The weather has not been kind with hay supplies being short and cows soon coming off pasture in perhaps not the best condition. Feed options are limited, and little has changed in the decisions faced by cattlemen. When hay supplies are short, quality may also be questionable, and they must look to bringing in forages from other areas if possible. Reliance on the crop industry is the most obvious of these considerations utilizing crop residues (chaff and straw) of own origin or that of others. To successfully use these feeds, knowing their shortcomings is paramount. Low quality hays and straws are highly fibrous, limiting intake, and they are short in both protein and energy. Providing both protein and energy economically is not as easy as it sounds. Feeding extra grain to make up for the shortage of protein may not be feasible as the amount of grain needed, particularly in periods of cold stress, may be more than practically safe. This practice is not only wasteful and inefficient but also expensive.
wintering diets based on cereal straw at $4/bushel of barley and $2.50/bushel of oats, Milligan Bio-Meal at $310/tonne was used over other supplements and substituted a portion of the grain making a cheaper ration. Different operations will have different variations and needs. The approach and thought behind having adequate rations that are efficient and economical are the same and much easier to make with having Milligan’s Bio-Meal as an option too. Similarly, rations for replacement and growing calves require added protein and energy. These high oil meals are a natural fit in providing high quality protein and energy to growing calves. The added protein and energy mean better growth with calves, better cow condition, better milking ability and increased breeding capability. The higher phosphorus content of canola meals also means increased fertility and mineral supplementation with a cheaper 2:1 cattle mineral. After falling victim to low oil prices and support for Biodiesel in Canada, Milligan
Biofuels have restructured and are now up and running, crushing distressed canola seed once again since February 2019. In late 2018 Milligan Biofuels was purchased by a local area farmer and is operated as Eaglepoint Ventures Ltd. According to Glenn Helgason, the principal owner, the approach will be different, targeting Western Canadian markets for both meal and oil with direct sales to livestock producers and pick up at the plant as options. Helgason has indicated that in startup meal consistency and flowability was a major goal and now has been achieved. Other positive aspects have been kept, such as screenings being sold separately and not being added to the meal as others do. “To lose the capability to make use of distressed canola seed and turn it into a superior feed source would be a loss to both canola and livestock producers,” he stated. I suspect Helgason may be talking from his experience as a canola grower. B *To try this option, contact Milligan Biofuels: (306) 272 6284 or email: commodities@ milliganbiofuels.com
The options available for these lower quality forages are to look at feeds that are higher in protein combining with grain to form an economical ration. Some options to use are 32% to 40% beef supplements, canola meal and high oil canola meal resulting from processing distressed canola seed. These high oil canola meals, now available from Milligan Biofuels of Foam Lake Sk., are an intriguing product and provide much added benefit. Milligan Bio-Meal contains 36% to 38% quality protein and 12% to 14% oil on a dry matter basis and, while the protein and mineral content are similar to regular canola meal, the energy content is not and is much higher. The energy content of Milligan Bio-Meal is higher than barley grain owing to its higher fat content giving it higher feeding value over beef supplements and regular canola meal. In formulating least cost cow
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SEPTEMBER 2019
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Stewardship A Little About the Little Brown Myotis and What You Can Do
by Carolyn Gaudet, Manager, SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan Little Brown Myotis is the most common and widespread of the nine bat species in Saskatchewan. Little Brown Myotis range from 7-9 grams in weight and have a wingspan of 22-27 centimeters. They have shiny brown fur with black ears and black wings. Females and males are similar in appearance, but the females are slightly larger than males. Little Brown Myotis can live up to seven years. These bats fall prey to owls, snakes, raptors, cats, raccoons and weasels. Little Brown Myotis does not migrate long distances, but they will migrate from their summer roosts to winter roosts which can be up to 1,000 km apart. These bats will hibernate in their winter roosts, which are often caves or abandoned mines that are chosen because of their high humidity and stable, above-freezing temperatures. Little Brown bats are true hibernators, meaning that they slow down their metabolism, heart rate and breathing, but will wake periodically to drink or eliminate guano (waste). Hibernating bats rely solely on their fat reserves to survive from early fall to the spring (mid-April for females, mid-May for males). Most bats will return to the same roosts every year, but others will switch roosts. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forest, prairie and even the southern edge of the Arctic tundra and urban centers. In the summer, they prefer areas near wetlands, lakes and streams because of greater food availability. Little brown bats contribute to the ecological function of many Canadian ecosystems. Little Brown bats forage opportunistically at night using echolocation to locate a variety of small, flying insects, typically moths, flies, mosquitoes, mayflies, beetles and midges. Most Little Brown bats can consume about 1,000 insects per night or half of their body weight, whereas females with suckling pups can consume the equivalent of their weight in insects. From a human 24
Myotis lucifugus Photo credit: M. Brock Fenton
perspective, bats are very important for insect pest control, including mosquitoes, that can be vectors for illnesses and agricultural pests, thereby reducing the need for pesticide use. It was estimated that the economic importance of bats is valued at about $74/acre of cropland. Meaning, if all bats were lost, more pesticides would be needed to suppress the insects that would normally be consumed by bats. Therefore, in Saskatchewan, with our 7 million acres of cropland, the services provided by bats could be valued at $0.5 billion/year. Little Brown Myotis was listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act in 2014 as population declines started in 2010 with the first appearance of whitenose syndrome in eastern Canada. Whitenose syndrome is an invasive fungus that grows on the bats’ nose, wings and skin during hibernation. It causes the bats to wake up more frequently than usual due to dehydration and to the need to groom the fungus, causing them to be more active during the winter. This depletes their fat reserves more quickly, leading to starvation. In eastern Canada, where white-nose syndrome is more common, bat populations in hibernacula have been reduced to less than 10% of the original population.
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There is currently no cure for whitenose syndrome and experts believe that the Little Brown bat will be extirpated from parts of Canada between 9 and 30 years from the disease onset in 2010. However, as of 2019, the fungus has not reached Saskatchewan, but has been located in Manitoba and suspected in North Dakota. In addition to white-nose syndrome, other threats include the disturbance or destruction of hibernacula and maternity colonies, habitat loss, pesticide use, toxins in the food web and wind energy. Bats can be killed through direct collisions with turbine blades or more commonly barotrauma (the sudden drop in air pressure behind the blades). As Little Brown Myotis, and other Myotis species, are short distance migrants and generally fly below the turbines during the summer, mortalities due to turbines may be fewer compared to long-distance migrants. As most of the declines are due to whitenose syndrome, entering hibernacula should be avoided to prevent the spread of the fungus. There are mitigation measures for wind energy developments that have been effective at reducing mortalities such as feathering wind turbine blades or increasing the cut-in speed during high risk periods. There are a number of resources available with wind energy development guidelines. SEPTEMBER 2019
Stewardship There are a few things that could be done to improve bat habitat in your area as well:
• Maintain roost sites like old trees and buildings, or provide bat boxes, etc.;
• Avoid or minimize the use of pesticides, especially near drainages and wetlands near riparian zones;
• If eviction from buildings is required, bat houses can be
installed well in advance of the eviction. As bats are raising young during the summer, they shouldn’t be evicted before the end of August. It is best to use one-way exit devices which would allow bats to exit without re-entering to avoid trapping bats inside a roost;
• Avoid degrading roosting and foraging habitat within
riparian areas by setting conservative grazing rates, providing alternate watering sites and avoiding the installation of barbed wire fences that bisect water troughs or other sources of open water.
Many more beneficial management practices can be found here: http://multisar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Multisar-Bat-BMPReport-Final.pdf B
SEPTEMBER 2019
A well-used bat house. Photo credit: Anne Brigham
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 25
Stewardship Willow Creek Ranch Wins TESA Award Randy and Terry Stokke from Govenlock, Saskatchewan, received The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Annual General Meeting and Convention in Moose Jaw in June. They went on to represent Saskatchewan for the national TESA award, at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary in August. The Stokkes are long-time advocates for prairie conservation and preservation of species-at-risk. They have implemented far-sighted conservation practices to preserve their native grass pastures. Willow Creek Ranch, in the far southwest corner of the province, is unique having about 95% native prairie grass and it’s also home to over a dozen species-at-risk.
I have to manage my ranch for all species Randy Stokke learned about grazing management and stewardship from his father. “I learned that from him and, hopefully, I can pass that on to my son who is going to take over someday,” he said. The Stokke’s stewardship system is actually research-based. Back in the 1930s, a ten-year study was conducted on the appropriate number of cattle to graze on this native grass and on the best management practices for the southern Saskatchewan grasslands. It should be noted that the study took place during one of the driest periods of the past century. Since the 1940s, the ranch has been managing its grazing based on the findings from this 1930s research. For example, the ranch uses a rotating pattern of winter fields, summer fields and more heavily grazed spring fields where the calving takes place. “By doing so, we’ve created this mosaic of habitat,” he explained. They also use tame grasses like crested wheatgrass to provide the native grass some time to grow in the spring. Another grass management practice in
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place since the 1940s has been to reduce the number of cattle during drought times and then return to the original herd size during average years. Stokke noted that herd size is not increased to maintain the appropriate grass to cow ratio. Since taking over the ranch, Stokke has carried on with stewardship following the original system closely and adding a few modern tweaks. He has expanded the greater sage-grouse habitat with cross fencing which also helped the ranch better manage the summer pastures. Using genetics and enhanced grass management, Randy has improved the operation as well as produces more pounds of beef on the same grass compared to the 1930s. The Stokkes conservation work includes working with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) at the federal level on species-at-risk. They got involved with ECCC because an emergency protection order (EPO) for habitat for the greater sage-grouse, a species-at-risk, was placed on their land. Stokke also wanted to work with ECCC after growing concerned about some of their pronouncements regarding land management. He found that the ECCC lacked information about Saskatchewan’s grasslands and were unaware of how ranchers have been managing it over the decades. Because many decisions about species and protection orders are made in Ottawa, Stokke felt they needed to be as fully informed as possible about the land. Thus, he invited them to do a species count on his ranch. He’s also conducted several tours for ECCC directors from Ottawa. Stokke has been working on a species count project with ECCC where they visited his ranch and conducted a species inventory and a grass assessment. “I wanted to prove that what we’ve been doing for the last 70 years with rotational grazing has created a mosaic of habitat.” he said. “I have all these species and
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The Willow Creek Ranch has created habitat for at least over a dozen species-at-risk like the swift fox.
they’ve been here for 70 years.” Stokke has created habitat for native species all over the ranch. For example, the burrowing owl and swift fox need shorter grass, whereas the Sprague’s pipit and other birds need taller grass. “By managing your grazing, you can manage your grass,” Stokke explained. With his own records and the data from the species and grass inventory collected by ECCC, “I can basically prove that grazing and species-at-risk go together,” he said. For the Stokkes, it’s validation. They’ve been able to scientifically prove on their ranch that ranching and speciesat-risk work together. “Probably over the last five years, I’ve worked with Environment Canada trying to develop conservation agreements for ranchers that would give protection from further emergency protection orders,” he said. One point that he’s been trying to have included in the agreement with ranchers is that they should be a fiveyear term with species counts and grass evaluations done every fifth year. He has tried to impress on the ECCC that species and grass monitoring needs to be conducted over the long term – not on a year-to-year basis – to take into consideration drought and other climatic conditions, such as was done in the 1930s study.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Stewardship Stokke is also trying to have added to the conservation agreement a stipulation about grass management. “It wouldn’t be changing what a lot of us do anyway,” he pointed out. Moreover, Stokke doesn’t see a need for protection orders because ranchers are “already doing what needs to be done” in terms of creating habitat through grass management.
to be developed without a permit from ECCC, and wells and water troughs, while permitted, cannot harm the habitat. At the same time, Stokke has found the restrictions sometimes contradict each other. For example, the provision to create hawk nests for the ferruginous hawk contradicts the restrictions for the sagegrouse order which prohibits hawk nests.
Furthermore, Stokke wanted to make sure that ranchers are aware of the impact of an emergency protection order to protect a species. The EPO restricts activities on Stokke’s land. “A lot of landowners are probably not aware of the implications,” he added. A protection order is issued for each species individually and will have a different set of prohibitions on the land to protect that species. Stokke explained that his ranch has about 13 species that are listed as threatened or needing protection. A protection order for each of them would severely limit the ranch’s activity. “That’s what so scary about it. If they start doing this for numerous species, you’d be so limited in what you could do,” he said.
Stokke has also been trying to impress upon ECCC officials that his land is being managed for multiple species with a variety of needs and not just for one species. “Don’t try to enhance one species,” he advised. “Because you’re always going to enhance one to the detriment of another.” Proper grass management for the cattle brings the added benefit of habitat preservation and habitat creation for species-at-risk. “The best way to go at this is to protect the habitat. You want to preserve grasslands,” he said, adding, “If we can supply the grazer (cattle) and leave the habitat the way it is, all these species at least have a home.”
The limitations extend to infrastructure and grass management. For instance, the sage brush plant has to be protected for the greater sage-grouse, and it’s a violation to destroy even one sage brush plant. Another limitation is that they cannot build high pole gates which could be used by hawks for perching and hunting. With his ranch in the arid region of the province, water sources are vital. Yet the EPO does not allow dugouts
Randy and Terry Stokke from Govenlock, SK, received The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) at the SSGA AGM and Convention in June.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Stokke is concerned about some of the barriers for ranchers to get more involved in stewardship on a formal basis. For example, the ECCC has allocated millions to conservation programs like Nature Conservancy to purchase land to manage for species. By doing so, they are competing for land with youth wanting to enter ranching. Then, once the land is purchased, it will have to be managed using budget funding. Stokke would prefer to see the government fund programs for young ranchers to become involved in managing the landscape through ranching as well as programs to allow these conservation lands to be managed by local ranchers who have a vested interest in preserving their landscape. “They have the best managers available to them – the ranchers themselves,” he stated. Furthermore, Stokke warns that poor management of native prairie grasslands could spoil the whole landscape for species as well as for neighbouring ranches. “That’s what worries me is when people that don’t even live here
Randy Stokke manages his native prairie grass through grazing which creates a mosaic of habitat.
make decisions on management. What harm are they going to do over the long term?” he asked. He cited the example of the Grasslands National Park. They had not grazed certain areas of the park for 20 years and have now realized that grazing of grasslands is necessary to keep biodiversity for prairie species. So, they are making attempts to manage the grass through grazing of cattle again as it was before it was a park.
If we can supply the grazer (cattle) and leave the habitat the way it is, all these species at least have a home. In addition, the ECCC would benefit by tapping into rancher expertise. Stokke stressed the importance of the local knowledge gained by ranchers over generations about managing the grasslands habitat. “Most ranchers that manage large areas of grasslands have been conservationists,” Stokke said. “We’ve been sustainable – or else we wouldn’t be in business.” He noted that ranchers have traditional knowledge of the habitat as it has existed over the long term, whereas scientific research is more like a snapshot of the habitat at a particular point in time. Stokke advises ranchers to document their knowledge and observations about continued on page 28
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Stewardship Species Habitat cont. from pg. 27 species-at-risk, even taking photos of species with their cell phone. “Because we have nothing documented and all of our information is anecdotal to them,” he added. He said that this can help to counter inaccurate and outdated information coming from government departments and it is more scientific. Stokke is part of a group of landowners and ranchers from Saskatchewan and Alberta called Sustainable Canada, which he chairs. Their aim is to open doors and speak about stewardship of the land. They’ve been to Ottawa to meet with government officials and have been part of the Species at Risk Roundtable to encourage dialogue and stress the importance of cattle in preserving grasslands and habitat landscape. They
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want to convey to officials and to the public that livestock today fills the gap that the bison herds did in the past by keeping the grasslands healthy. In turn, this grass provides biodiversity and a habitat for species-at-risk as well as sequesters carbon. In addition, cattle provide a very healthy source of protein, vitamins and minerals for human consumption. Their message seems to be getting through because Stokke has noticed that official positions have shifted, and they now agree that grazing is necessary to maintain a healthy prairie habitat. Grasslands have been identified as one of the most endangered habitats in the world. Since ranching preserves these native grasslands, Stokke says that ranchers view themselves more as grass managers. “The better you manage your grass, the more productive it is,
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Willow Creek Ranch in southern Saskatchewan.
and thereby the more productive and healthier your livestock will be,” he noted. As good managers, ranchers also need to be able to adapt and incorporate new technologies and practices. “We need to be always looking to the future,” Stokke concluded. “If there is a practice we could be doing for species-at-risk, we need to keep abreast of it.”
SEPTEMBER 2019
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Box 1057, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4A2 3 Miles East of Lethbridge on Highway #3 and 1/4 Mile South on the Broxburn Road www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 29 AB. Lic. #0714651 SK. Lic. # 915403
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AGM & CONVENTION June 9 - 11, 2019
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Association News, Reports, and Events SSGA 2019 AGM Resolutions The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) held its 106th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Convention on June 10-12, 2019, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This year’s theme was “Strategies for Success”. The event featured two days of speaker sessions, meeting deliberations, networking opportunities and a trade show. At the AGM, members brought forward and adopted eight resolutions (see below) and elected three new directors to the Board of Directors: Murray Linthicum of Glentworth, Rob Selke of Morse and Aaron Huber of Lipton. At a meeting of the new board following the AGM business session, the incumbent executive members were re-elected. Showcasing the professional education sessions was internationally distinguished environment researcher, Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California and Dietitian Carol Harrison from Toronto. At the AGM and Convention Banquet the Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) was presented to Randy and Terry Stokke from Govenlock, SK, and the Rangeland Scholarship was awarded to Kaitlyn Harrison of Regina Beach, SK. It concluded with a live auction. Resolution #1 WHEREAS the Canadian Agricultural Program (CAP) forage program is not fully subscribed; and WHEREAS the current $10,000 funding cap does not reflect current seed and seeding costs. BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the provincial government to remove the funding limits in the CAP forage programs. Carried
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to fund additional seats at WCVM to help address the shortage of rural large animal and mixed vets in Saskatchewan. Carried Resolution #3 WHEREAS AAFC is currently conducting research on livestock transportation animal welfare outcomes. WHEREAS CFIA has announced changes to the Animal Transportation Regulations that will go into effect in February 2020. BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA continue lobbying the Government of Canada to delay the implementation of the revised Animal Transportation Regulations until AAFC’s research is completed. Carried
Resolution #4 WHEREAS one pass of targeted grazing is currently an eligible expense under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP); and WHEREAS a two-pass system is the recommended best management practice for targeted grazing. BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to include two targeted grazing passes as an eligible expense under CAP. Carried Resolution #5 WHEREAS livestock production can be very beneficial to soil health. BE IT RESOLVED SSGA encourage cooperation between livestock producers and crop growers. Carried continued on page 37
LANE REALTY For the most VALUE & EXPOSURE that you deserve when selling your farm or ranch property, contact one of our Farm & Ranch Specialists today! BOB LANE – Broker MURRAY MURDOCH – Rosetown / Saskatoon / Davidson DALE MURDOCH – Swift Current / West Central JASON BEUTLER – Yorkton / Whitewood / Estevan ED BEUTLER – Yorkton DARRELL HERAUF – Regina District JASON SELINGER – Regina / South Central SK DOUG JENSEN – Melville / Raymore MORWENNA SUTTER – Prince Albert / Melfort / NE Sask ASHLEY MURDOCH – Outlook
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Resolution #2 WHEREAS there is an extreme shortage of rural large animal and mixed vets in Saskatchewan; and WHEREAS the Government of Alberta is discontinuing their funding of WCVM; and WHEREAS the Government of Alberta decision will create a funding shortfall for 20 seats at WCVM. 32
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SEPTEMBER 2019
“DUC programs have helped us acquire more land, and sustain our ranching operations without going into debt. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I can graze the land; I can hay the land. Working with Ducks Unlimited has been all positive. All of them have been super to work with. I am of the opinion that there should be more organizations like them.” – TAVANETZ FAMILY, DUC PROGRAM PARTNERS
DUC has programs for producers. Contact your local DUC office or call 1-866-252-3825 to learn more about our Forage, Conservation Easements, Fencing and Wetland Restoration programs. SEPTEMBER 2019
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 33
Association News, Reports, and Events Rangeland Scholarship Awarded at AGM Kaitlyn Harrison was awarded the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s (SSGA) 2019 Rangeland Scholarship. Kimberly Simpson, who chairs the SSGA Promotions Committee, made the presentation at the SSGA’s Annual General Meeting and Convention banquet on June 10, 2019. The SSGA Rangeland Scholarship recognizes an applicant’s leadership skills, community involvement and academics with the aim of developing future leaders in the Saskatchewan beef industry. From Regina Beach, SK, Kaitlyn graduated from Lumsden High School in June maintaining top grades. She plans to attend the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, SK, this fall majoring in environmental science. Kaitlyn takes a great interest in the environment, habitat conservation and the role of cattle in their preservation. She has been involved in 4-H and has her own Speckle Park herd which has honed her leadership skills and interest in agriculture. Kaitlyn led an environmental club in high school and has already taken wildlife management and environmental sciences courses. In the future, Kaitlyn wants to work in the field of conservation of wildlife and habitat putting to use her ranching and beef cattle experience. The Rangeland Scholarship is an annual $1,000 scholarship that was established in 1995. Funding for the scholarship comes from SSGA membership donations and matching funds from the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund under the Environment Ministry. The award is given to a youth in Saskatchewan who has a family member in SSGA and who is currently enrolled or will be going on to post-secondary study in a field related to range management at a university, college or other program. B Application deadline: February 1, 2020. To apply: http://skstockgrowers.com/ SG2014/_PDF/Awards-Scholarships/ Rangeland.pdf
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Kaitlyn Harrison (left) receives the SSGA Rangeland Scholarship presented by Kimberly Simpson (right).
Youngest 4-H Beef Exhibitor Congratulations to Coleton Blake for receiving the SSGA show halter for being the youngest 4-H Beef Exhibitor at the 2019 Frontier Days in Swift Current on June 26-29, 2019. SSGA sponsors the show halter award to support youth participation in beef.
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
Association News, Reports, and Events SSGA Welcomes New Director Murray Linthicum
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association would like to welcome Murray Linthicum to the Board of Directors. Murray joined the SSGA Board as a Director-at-Large during the SSGA 106th Annual General Meeting on June 11, 2019.
Murray and his wife Jan ranch at Glentworth, SK where they have a 550 head cow calf and 1,000 head grazing yearling operation. The ranch was started in 1944 by Murray’s grandfather Bill Linthicum and he was followed by Murray’s father, Frank Linthicum, and uncle, Bob Linthicum. Murray and Jan have two grown children, Clayton and Taitum. Clayton owns a few cattle of his own and helps on the ranch when he can. Daily operations are managed by Murray and Jan with the help of a full time hired man. Murray’s parents, Frank and Marjorie, were both active life members of the SSGA and Murray himself has been a member for
many years. He looks forward to learning from the experience of being a board member and sharing input with the SSGA. Murray says he is happy to give back to SSGA, an organization that has helped his family over the years. When asked what he feels are the biggest challenges facing the industry, Murray said that educating those people not involved in agriculture about the lifestyle of the industry and all that is involved in food production. He sees that SSGA can have a role in educating the general public in this way in order to gain their support and benefit the industry. B
Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Congratulations to the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo team which competed at the National High School Rodeo Association finals July 11-16, 2019 in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Agri-Fun in Lloydminster The Beef Education exhibit was part of Country Lane at Colonial Days Fair in Lloydminster on July 10-13, 2019 helping attendees learn about beef production.
SEPTEMBER 2019
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 35
Association News, Reports, and Events A Report From Bill Huber President, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association to environment from some top-notch speakers. We hope that you benefited from their expertise. If you were unable to attend, you can find these presentations on our SSGA website. We would also like to thank the many sponsors of our AGM and Convention for your support in making this event a success.
As I write this president’s message, I look back at one year since being elected SSGA president. So much has happened in the beef industry this past year proving that it is even more important for livestock producers and the industry to tell our own story. The year has been another challenging one for producers weather-wise. The spring started off dry with some places getting very little, if any, moisture that affected pasture and hay crops. June brought some timely rains that improved pasture conditions in many parts of the province, especially in southern Saskatchewan which has already gone through two drought years. Some areas of the province remain dry with reduced quality and quantity of hay and crop growth. We held our 106th Annual General Meeting and Convention in Moose Jaw on June 9-11, 2019. We had a very productive AGM where we adopted eight resolutions (see page 38) and voted in three new Directors-at-Large. We welcome to the SSGA Board of Directors – Aaron Huber of Lipton, Murray Linthicum of Glentworth and Rob Selke of Morse. Thank you to all those who attended the AGM and Convention and for bringing forward your questions and concerns. We heard some excellent presentations on topics from irrigation to insurance and animal health
36
We’ve been hearing a lot in the news about plant-based protein food products this summer. Along with that, there’s also been a lot of misinformation about the nutritional value of beef and the impact of cattle on the environment. We had two fantastic speakers at our AGM and Convention speaking to these two topics. Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California and Registered Dietitian Carol Harrison from Toronto provided a lot of good information to counter this misinformation. They showed why its important for our industry to connect with the public. Social media gives us a chance to share our industry experiences with many people. If you are looking for factual resources about our industry, SSGA provides up-to-date information on our social media and weekly bulletin. Canada Beef (canadabeef.ca) provides some excellent resources on nutritional benefits of beef. If you need some assistance, call our office.
and raised over $80,000 which will be dispersed to those producers impacted by the fire and who have applied to us for assistance. Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, local volunteers, and SSGA staff for making this such a memorable event. We also thank everyone who attended for their support. This benefit was a good example of the spirit of Saskatchewan where neighbours help neighbours in need. By the time you are reading this report, the federal election campaign should be underway with voting scheduled for this October. I encourage you to make sure that you get out and exercise your democratic right to vote in this election. It could be the most important in our history. It’s also important that you research your local candidates and check out their platforms, especially their positions on the beef industry and support for agriculture and farm families. It’s time for Western Canadian producers to be heard by our political leadership. Most importantly, regardless of which candidates succeed and which party comes to govern, we need to be able to work cooperatively with them as stakeholders for the good of the industry as a whole.
Over the summer, SSGA representatives and I had an opportunity to meet with Joe Hargrave, Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance. We discussed the mandatory commercial truck driver training program for the Class 1 commercial license that took effect in March. I also had two occasions to meet with Andrew Scheer, Conservative Party of Canada leader and Regina MP, where we discussed a variety of issues affecting the beef industry.
The government released an initial list of designated regions in July where livestock tax deferral has been authorized for 2019 due to extreme weather conditions. Producers are able to defer a portion of their 2019 sale proceeds of breeding livestock until 2020 to help replenish the herd. The cost of replacing the animals in 2020 will offset the deferred income, thereby reducing the tax burden associated with the original sale. If you are eligible, don’t forget to consider this opportunity as well as other government programs available to producers.
SSGA organized a very successful Argo Wildfire Benefit as part of the Wildfire Relief Fund to help ranchers affected by the mid-April wildfire in the Biggar, SK, area. The event took place in July
The beef industry continues to be concerned about the suspension of beef exports to China. In June China banned pork and beef exports from Canada. There
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
Association News, Reports, and Events have been positive opportunities in this market with exports growing almost 300% in the first six months of 2019 over 2018. During this period, over 11 million kilograms of Canadian beef worth over $96 million was exported to China. The loss of this market will be felt on cattle prices too. The cattle markets have been strong this year and beef demand is up in the North American market. Going into fall there is some market uncertainty after a fire at the Tyson Foods beef processing plant in Holcomb, Kansas, in early August. It’s one of the main beef processing plants in the U.S. with a 6,000 head a day slaughtering capacity. The fire has had some effect on U.S. cattle prices. There will be an impact on Canadian prices because the U.S. is a major export destination. Fortunately, we’ve seen strong consumer demand on the Canadian market, and we are
developing more export opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite the uncertainty from the Tyson fire and trade with China, we are hopeful that the market will remain strong. Remember to take the opportunity when you can to inform others about the nutritional value of beef and the benefits of cattle for the environment to promote the story of our industry. In closing, I wish everyone a safe and productive harvest. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call!
AGM Resolutions cont. from pg. 32 Resolution #6 WHEREAS the Canadian cattle industry does not have enough EU certified cattle to meet the demand for that market; and WHEREAS the certification and auditing to meet the EU program requirements could be done by the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program. BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the CFIA to enable VBP+ to certify operations for the EU program. Carried Resolution #7 WHEREAS cash grazing rent is not an eligible expense under AgriStability.
Bill
2019 SSGA Board of Directors
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government’s of Saskatchewan and Canada to include cash grazing rent as eligible expense under AgriStability. Carried Resolution #8 WHEREAS the Government of Saskatchewan has announced very significant changes to the requirements to obtain a class 1A driver’s license; and WHEREAS we have not seen any evidence that would indicate that the proper application and enforcement of the prior requirements were deficient; and WHEREAS we have not been presented with evidence that would indicate that the new requirements will be more effective than proper application of previous requirements and adherence to current traffic laws.
First row left to right: Shane Jahnke (Past President), Garner Deobald (Second Vice President), Bill Huber (President), Kelcy Elford (First Vice President), Jeff Yorga (Finance Chair), Chad MacPherson (General Manager); Second row left to right: Rod Gamble, Kimberly Simpson, Glen Elford, Joe Gilchrist, Laird Senft, Lee Sexton, Brad Howe, Henry McCarthy. *For a full list of the SSGA Board of Directors, see page 39.
SEPTEMBER 2019
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA hold the Government of Saskatchewan responsible for making decisions-based on data, evidence and science. Carried
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 37
Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER September 18-19
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef AGM
Montreal, QC
September 21
Society for Range Management AGM & Fall Forum
Saskatoon, SK
September 28-29
Ranchman’s and Junior Stockman’s Show
Swift Current, SK
OCTOBER October 1-31
Agriculture Month
October 12
Advertising Deadline for November Issue of Beef Business Magazine
October 12
Square D Herefords Production Sale
Langbank, SK
October 23-26
Manitoba AG EX
Brandon, MB
October 30-November 2
Stockade Roundup
Lloydminster, SK
NOVEMBER November 1
Getting Started in Sheep Workshop
Saskatoon, SK
November 6-9
Yorkton Harvest Showdown
November 6-10
FarmFair International
Edmonton, AB
November 12-15
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association Conference
Moncton, NB
November 13-14
Farm & Food Care SK – Farms at the Table Conference
Saskatoon, SK
November 19-20
Regenerative Ag Days
Brandon, MB
November 24-25
Canadian Bison Association AGM
Regina, SK
November 25-30
Canadian Western Agribition
Regina, SK
Yorkton, SK
DECEMBER December 10-12
Western Canadian Conference on Soil Health and Grazing
December 12
Advertising Deadline for January Edition of Beef Business Magazine
Edmonton, AB
JANUARY January 30-February 1
Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference
Recycling cont. from pg. 19 ultraprocessed products.” Furthermore, he pointed out that ultraprocessed foods are generally less healthy containing additional calories, sugar, salt and other unhealthy components. He says that it’s inaccurate to compare these products to the original beef, dairy and eggs from a health perspective. “Animal source food is the most nutrientdense per unit of food,” Mitloehner said. “What we produce [beef] has the best combination of nutrients, of essential
38
nutrients, across all food groups, and this is very critical.” The nutritional package is all in a ratio that is ideally suited for human nutrition. “There is nothing that competes with the nutrient density and the combination of essential nutrients in a glass of milk or an egg or a serving of beef. Nothing comes close with respect to essential macro- and micronutrients.” In conclusion, Mitloehner does not see livestock as a force that has contributed to the drastic increase in GHGs or increase in methane. Emissions from cattle are part of a biogenetic methane cycle that cycles carbon dioxide and methane through
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
Saskatoon, SK
plants, animals and the atmosphere, whereas the real culprit is fossil fuel emissions which remain forever in the atmosphere. Most scientists would concur that the increase in methane seen today is due to fracking – to the extraction of oil, coal and gas from the ground, that began in 2006. Furthermore, some countries like Canada and the U.S. have improved their beef production efficiency which has had the effect of drastically reducing its footprint compared to other less efficient cattle producing regions of the world. This efficient production of a highly nutritional food needs to be recognized. B
SEPTEMBER 2019
Advertisers Index Allen Leigh Security & Communications Apollo Machine & Products ArcRite Welding Arm River Red Angus Arrowquip Assiniboia Livestock Auction Barr & Olney Canadian Western Agribition Cowtown Livestock Exchange, Inc. D&R Prairie Supplies Ducks Unlimited Canada Edward Jones FeedMax Corporation Frostfree Nosepumps Ltd. GBT Angus
41 40 40 42 3 21 42 43 41 13 33 40 41 41 42
Consumer Demand cont. from pg. 16 generally fairly positive that our industry is quite competitive,” he said. This trend has been keeping the Canadian feedlot and packing sectors healthy and competitive despite the slowly declining cow herd. Weather Effects For the most part, Saskatchewan saw a poor hay crop although moisture has improved in the latter half of the year providing second cuts of hay and more
Gem Silage Grassland Trailer Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment John Brown Farms Johnstone Auction Mart Kelln Solar Kramer Trailer Sales Kyle Welding & Machine Shop Lane Realty Corp. Linthicum Ranch Man-SK Gelbvieh Manitou Maine-Anjou Masterfeeds Milligan Biofuels N.M. McMahon Chartered Professional Accountant
40 41 19 42 41 40 41 41 32 42 42 42 43 22 40
pasture grass. As a result of improvements in the weather, feed prices fell over the previous month and feed supplies are stable. The dry conditions earlier in the year sparked a spike in cow slaughter in the first part of the year, but it has dropped off to below a year ago by fall. Furthermore, some heifers went to slaughter instead of being retained for breeding, hence contributing to the decline of the Canadian herd.
40 41 44 29 40 2,42 25 4 40 41 12 40 41 42 23
New Life Mills New Vision Agro Norheim Ranching Perlich Bros Auction Market Pneu Dart/Target Cattle Concepts Saskatchewan Angus Assoc. SaskTip SCIC WLPIP Simply Ag Solutions Smeaton Fencing Square D Herefords Sweet Pro Western Litho Young Dale Angus Youngs Equipment
In conclusion, the Canadian cattle industry looks positive into the future. It’s showing higher productivity with more beef coming from a smaller herd. Canadian packers are operating at full capacity filling steady domestic demand and higher exports to foreign markets. Recent trade deals are coming into fruition bringing new opportunities, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the industry will continue to monitor the impact of the Tyson plant fire. B
SSGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Bill Huber President/Zone Chair Lipton, SK
Phone: 336-2684
Kelcy Elford 1st Vice President/Director at Large Caronport, SK
Phone: 690-5209
Garner Deobald 2nd Vice President/Affiliate Director Hodgeville, SK
Phone: 677-2589
Jeff Yorga Finance Chair Flintoft, SK Phone: 531-5717 Shane Jahnke Past President Gouldtown, SK
SEPTEMBER 2019
Phone: 784-2899
Jerry Chanig, Mankota Keith Day, Lacadena Glen Elford, Avonlea Calvin Gavelin, McCord Joe Gilchrist, Maple Creek Aaron Huber, Lipton Murray Linthicum, Glentwoth Barry Olney, Estevan Roy Rutledge, Assiniboia Rob Selke, Morse Lee Sexton, Hanley Barry Wasko, Eastend
ZONE CHAIR DIRECTORS Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 - Zone 5 - Zone 6 - Zone 7 - Zone 12 -
Henry McCarthy, Wawota Karen McKim, Milestone Rod Gamble, Pambrun Brad Howe, Empress, AB Bill Huber, Lipton Brent Griffin, Elbow Kimberly Simpson, Kyle Kelly Williamson, Pambrun
478-2658 375-2934 436-7121 478-2558 662-3986 336-2684 266-4377 421-1495 642-5358 629-3238 544-2660 295-3852
AFFILIATE DIRECTORS
Garner Deobald - Charolais Affiliate, Hodgeville 677-2589 John Hylkema - SaskMilk Affiliate, Hague 604-798-6450 Tara Fritz - SImmental Affiliate, Shaunavon 297-3147 Ian Leaman - Shorthorn Affiliate, Chaplin 631-3694 Gordon Schroeder - SK Sheep Dev. Board 933-5582 Laird Senft - Angus Affiliate, Fort Qu’Appelle 332-4823 Ashley Kattler - Goat Breeders, Indian Head 695-7340 Jeff Yorga - Limousin Affiliate, Flintoft 531-5717
APPOINTED DIRECTORS
Dr. Andy Acton- Veterinary Advisor, Ogema
459-2422
SASKATCHEWAN CCA DIRECTORS 739-2205 436-7731 582-2077 661-0409 336-2684 854-2050 375-5534 582-6102
Pat Hayes, Val Marie Lynn Grant, Val Marie Reg Schellenberg, Beechy Duane Thompson, Kelliher
298-2284 298-2268 859-4905 675-4562
Listings of email and fax numbers can be found on the SSGA website at www.skstockgrowers.com
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 39
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Your AD could be here! Call now! 306-757-8523
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Machine & Products Ltd.
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Working to create opportunities for farmers in Saskatchewan We are a Canadian distributor for Pneu-Dart Habitat Protection & Enhancement Phone: 306-955-5477 / 1-866-298-7222 www.simplyag.ca
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| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 41
B R E E D E RS Saskatchewan Stock Growers Associa�on, Advoca�ng for Independent Ca�le Producers in Saskatchewan for 106 Years.
SSGA MEMBERSHIP
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association has entered into a partnership with Flaman to increase Memberships and Subscription readership.
Your AD could be here! Contact 306-757-8523
Drive Helen Finucane
phone: 306-584-2773 cell: 306-537-2648 Carlyle, SK
As of September 1, 2008 the Saskatchewan Stock Growers will be offering a major prize Annual Online draw for all paid new and renewal of existing 12’ BERGEN STOCK TRAILER 2 Year Old Bull Sale memberships as follows: Specs: Full rear door, side door,3rd Friday in March The sponsored membership prize by Flaman will be a
slots for side window slides, rock guard, 2-3,500 lb toreflex axles
Trevor, Cheryl, Brett & Carter Branvold Box 205 Wawota, Saskatchewan S0G 5A0 Ph: 306 739 2924 | Cell: 306 577 9141 gbtangus@sasktel.net | www.gbtangus.com
New or Existing Memberships:
The member that sells the most SSGA new memberships will receive a free registration for two to the2009 SSGA AGM.
1 year
$105.00
1 entry
2 year
$194.25
2 entries
2 year spousal
$97.12
1 entry
3 year
$262.50
3 entries
3 year spousal
$131.25
2 entries
$1050.00
10 entries
$525.00
4 entries
Life be here! Your AD could Life spousal
Call now!
All draws will be made at the 2009 SSGA Annual Convention
306-757-8523 For more information or to become a member, please contact the SSGA office at 306-757-8523
Membership type: Member
Associate
Membership status:
Affiliate (call for rate)
Renewal
New
1 Year $157.50................... Spousal $78.75 Spousal $145.69 2 Year $291.38 .................... 3 Year $393.75 .................... Spousal $196.88 Lifetime: $2625.00 ............ Spousal $1312.50 Junior Membership 1 Year $26.75 2 Year $52.50 3 Year $78.75 Subscription 1 Year $26.25 2 Year $47.25 3 Year $68.25
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Name _______________________________________________ _ Address_ ____________________________________________ _ City/Town______________ Prov_____
Postal Code _________
SSGA MEMBERSHIP
Drive
Phone (________) _________________________________Email ______________________________ Ranch/company name___________________________________________Herd Size ________________ Fall Sale Dates___________________________Spring Sale Dates ________________________________
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com SEPTEMBER 2019 In order to be eligible to receive the prize a member, subscriber or advertiser who’s entry is drawn must answer a g skill question. testin The chances of winning the sponsored membership prize draw is dependant on the
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